West Hollywood installs meters to collect donations for homeless

One of the city of West Hollywood’s four ‘donation stations’ that are being used to collect donations for the homeless. The donation stations are designed to accept both coin and credit card contributions.
(Photo by Jon Viscott)

WEST HOLLYWOOD — The city has installed four “homeless meters” to receive donations from the public as part of its homeless initiative.

In late January, the city launched its real change donation station program.

“There are four donation stations presently and if the program is successful, perhaps we can add more throughout the city,” City Councilwoman Lauren Meister said. “Folks can feel good about feeding these meters because the funds collected will go towards the city’s homeless initiative. It’s a great way for community members to support the city’s outreach efforts and services to assist people who are experiencing homelessness.”

The donation stations look similar to standard parking meters, but they stand out as different due to their unique bright purple domes and blue-and-yellow signage. The donation stations offer basic information about the West Hollywood Homeless Initiative and accept both coin and credit card contributions.

They are located at the West Hollywood Gateway on La Brea Avenue, at Plummer Park adjacent to the tennis courts), Santa Monica Boulevard at Robertson Boulevard, and West Hollywood Park.

The city’s homeless initiative was discussed as part of a study session on homelessness conducted by the City Council Feb. 5 at the West Hollywood Library.

The Study Session included a panel of experts in outreach to people who are homeless; social service delivery; safety and law enforcement; public policy and advocacy; and funding related to Los Angeles County Measure H, which is expected to generate millions of dollars annually for services to combat homelessness across Los Angeles County.

“Our study session on homelessness highlighted our approach of working with both social service agencies and law enforcement to address the issue in a collaborative fashion,” Mayor John Heilman said. “Homelessness is an urgent issue throughout the county and it won’t be solved overnight. We need to expand the capacity of shelters, create more supportive housing for those with mental health issues and continue to increase our efforts to ensure public safety.”

The study session included the debut of a three-minute public service announcement video that focuses on the city’s homeless initiative.

The video captures the story of Jake Weinraub, mental health clinician for the Los Angeles LGBT Center, who works to conduct coordinated outreach to connect people who are homeless with a continuum of services and programs.

The homeless initiative seeks to address homelessness with a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency, collaborative response.

It provides outreach and services at the West Hollywood Library as a strategic collaboration between the city, the County of Los Angeles Public Library, and contracted social services provider organizations that include Ascencia, Step Up on Second, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, Safe Refuge, Friends Community Center, and Tarzana Treatment Centers.

In order to increase awareness about the homeless initiative and to assist local businesses, residents and community members with information and resources, the city is distributing new informational materials. “Homeless Not Hopeless” cards contain detailed contact information for community members who have concerns or who are being impacted and “Help Is Within Reach” pocket guides are being used by outreach teams to help people who are homeless to access resources.

If you are concerned about a community member who is homeless, call the West Hollywood Homeless Initiative Concern Line at (323) 848-6590.